The project, “EDSA Bus Efficiency Analysis and Monitoring System (BEAMS): Promoting Bus Fuel Efficiency through Promotion and Incentivization of Eco-Driving Practices for Bus Operations along EDSA” was supported by the Energy Research Fund (ERF) of the University of the Philippines – Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (UP OVPAA) from October 2019 to March 2021 in response to the need for creative and innovative solutions to address the uncertainties that arose during the pandemic. Borne out of the need to support contact tracing in public transportation, alongside providing a long-term, more sustainable solution to transport planning and operations data needs, the SafeTravelPH mobile application established the use case for crowdsourced data platforms and continues to promote fuel efficiency and eco-driving practices for bus operations along EDSA.
Once again from May to October 2023, the UP OVPAA supported the EDSA BEAMS project in pursuit of establishing a bus fleet performance monitoring system for the EDSA Busway and developing training modules on the bus fleet performance monitoring system for bus operators. Ultimately, its goal is to develop an extensive database of different driving behaviors and engine performances of the public utility buses operating along the EDSA Busway to reduce transport related emissions and likewise aid in the development of data-driven policies through the use of on-board diagnostics and the SafeTravelPH crowdsourcing mobile application for data collection.
Through this study, the researchers examine how engine RPM, acceleration/deceleration, and the pressing of the accelerator pad are the physical and skills-based type of driving behavior that drivers can improve on to contribute to overall fuel efficiency of their vehicle. The impact of the operating system of the EDSA Busway route that expects to move more than 500 buses daily to the overall bus operations and commuting efficiency were also explored.
The EDSA Carousel operates along a designated lane along EDSA otherwise known as the EDSA Busway. With full operations starting on July 1, 2020, the EDSA Carousel initially had 15 stops, now with 21 stops as of August 2023.
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